Heart That Thirsts

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1-2

It wasn’t but a couple of summers ago that water in our neck-of-the-woods was at a premium. The hot days came early in the year and seemed to stick around for most of the season. I could have sworn the earth swung a little closer to the sun that year! It was difficult on many. The grass and wildlife suffered, the homeless and elderly were especially vulnerable and life, in general, was spent more so indoors than out. It was parched! Water restrictions were placed on just about everything as the local reservoirs reached an all-time dangerous low. Would it ever rain again? Those who could . . . and dared, watered their lawns to save their investment. But no amount of water seemed to revive the crispy lawns . . . nothing like a good rain does for certain!

This year is a bit different. Actually, it’s over 20 inches above different!! Things that never turned green are twice as tall, more full and I think, when no one looks, the trees and plants actually spit out the excess water! Lawns are being mowed every few days just to keep up with the growth. The liquid “manna” from heaven brings rich nourishment to the land!

The earth cries out much like my own heart cries out. When I choose to do life separate from Christ, the land in which my heart is rooted becomes brown and dry. It longs for nourishment and searches for sources that offer something to satisfy. These false sources of satisfaction come at a great price. My heart will not grow, will not flourish, will not blossom — it’s fruit will not be that of grace, but will hunt to be filled. David warns us with how the heart works . . . “guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” But with every other source, the thirst for what truly satisfies becomes stronger. And when satisfied with things other than Christ Jesus, that which flows from the heart represents a barren soul.

But when the heart finds and drinks from the fountain of Christ, the well that never dries, it flows with much fruit . . . the fruit of grace!

Thank you Lord Jesus for the quenching of my soul through the streams of living water that flows from you and you alone! May I graze upon your grace and drink from your brook — all day long!